In pursuit of his first Grand National winner at the 14th attempt, Tony McCoy has opted to ride Butler's Cabin from a choice of four runners carrying the colours of his main employer, JP McManus. No one could blame McCoy for overlooking L'Ami but the champion jockey would not be the first great rider to get it wrong when faced with options in a major race.

L'Ami, with McCoy aboard, was a well-beaten 10th behind Silver Birch in the 2007 National and last year his name was in lights for the wrong reason, his second-fence fall ending the career of Mick Fitzgerald. Robert Thornton may have mixed feelings as he weighs out to partner the 10-year-old at Aintree .

This is L'Ami's first season with a new yard, however, and Enda Bolger's training regime seems to have rekindled his enthusiasm. Since jumping banks and hedges in cross-country events, L'Ami has looked more his old self. In his heyday with former trainer François Doumen, L'Ami was not far off top class, finishing fourth behind War Of Attrition in the 2006 Cheltenham Gold Cup.

L'Ami found his stablemate Garde Champetre too good for him in the cross-country event at the Cheltenham Festival last month, but he was 14 lengths clear of the third finisher and the Bolger-trained winner is outstanding in that discipline. Silver Birch prefaced his National victory with a second placing in the same Cheltenham race.

While Doumen resorted to fitting L'Ami with cheekpieces in an attempt to get the best out of him, the gelding has run sweetly without any headgear in his five runs for Bolger. Thornton has yet to finish closer than fifth in 12 Grand National rides, but he can improve on that with the help of L'Ami.

McCoy's run of misfortune at Aintree continued in last year's race when he parted company with Butler's Cabin, who was close up and going well, at Becher's second time round. A creditable run at Cheltenham last month suggested Butler's Cabin was returning to form at the right time.

My Will, the mount of dual National-winning jockey Ruby Walsh, appeared to run the perfect trial by finishing fifth in the Gold Cup. Like Butler's Cabin, though, he is a short price in what looks to be one of the most open Nationals in recent years.

L'Ami (4.15), Darkness, Rambling Minster and Himalayan Trail are my four against the field. Of the market leaders, Rambling Minster comes here in top form and his jockey, young James Reveley, will certainly not be overawed – he gave Endless Power a terrific ride when successful over the National fences in November.

Darkness is a quirky sort, but could just be the type who takes to Aintree and this former smart novice chaser is very well handicapped on his best form. Himalayan Trail has been struggling in testing ground in Ireland all season, and his trainer, Jimmy Mangan, who won here with Monty's Pass in 2003, is convinced the 10-year-old will bounce back to form on better going. Last year's Midlands Grand National winner has a handy racing weight.

Highlight of the races leading up to the National is the Aintree Hurdle, in which Al Eile (2.50) is out to equal Morley Street's record of four wins in the Grade One contest. A win on the Flat at Dundalk last time will have teed him up for his favourite race.

A spring horse, who goes best for Timmy Murphy, Al Eile can get the better of last month's Champion Hurdle runner-up, Celestial Halo. The latter's trainer, Paul Nicholls, may enjoy better luck with Tatenen (2.15) in the Maghull Chase, a race the stable has twice won with novices who had fallen in the Arkle Trophy at Cheltenham.

According To John (3.25) has run only twice since finishing third to Denman in the 2007 SunAlliance Chase, but last time showed enough to be of interest off a low weight here. Back in distance, Cape Tribulation (1.45) can step up on his fifth behind Weapon's Amnesty in the Albert Bartlett at Cheltenham.